Category Archives: Developers

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In more Splash Damage news, a new developer profile is up on their official site. This time around, they’ve got with Brink Character Artist (and Aussie-native) Ben ‘Mantegra’ Davis. Since folks always ask me how to get into the industry, I’ve chosen this snippet from the interview to share…

Do you have any tips for people wanting to break in?

Ben: You have got to have passion and love games if you want to work in this industry. If you want to be an artist but you don’t like playing games then this business is not for you. Practice, practice and practice some more. Learn as much as you can about the industry and above all else be persistent. Become a member of the online gaming community and get your name out there. Post your work on forums regularly and get constructive feedback. Always keep improving your skills in your spare time and keep up to date with the latest games technology. Presentation is key to a good portfolio.

Head here to read the rest. We’ll be sure to let you know when the next one goes up.

Later tonight, I’ll be heading to see District 9. Looking at the list below (and having seen others’ Facebook updates), I’m guessing that I’m one of the last at the office to see it.

In addition to District 9, find out the movies and shows are developers are watching below.

Max Cameron: District 9, Funny People, and catching up on How I Met Your Mother.

Andrew Scharf: Catching up on Breaking Bad, Mad Men, Dexter Season 3, and watching District 9 over the weekend.

Ryan Lea, Programmer: District 9 and Psych.

Matt Killmon, Video Producer: I keep watching the videos on this site over and over, and now my dreams are haunted and my soul tortured… and yet I cannot look away! Abandon all hope, ye who enter here!

Our first documentary video for WET, appropriately titled ‘Get WET,’ debuted on IGN last night (it’s also available on our YouTube page. The video features several developers from A2M’s team, as well as the voice of Rubi Malone — Eliza Dushku. Check it out to get the lowdown on the game and learn more about Rubi.

There’s a lot of common ground this weekend on what the devs are playing. Mostly notably, several folks (Joel, Jeff, Phil, Daryl, and Jonah) are returning to PlanetSide. For those that missed it, it’s a classic Massively Multiplayer First-Person game that was originally released back in 2003. Outside of that, folks are playing Wii Sports Resort, Worms 2: Armageddon, Marvel vs. Capcom 2, (re-released on Xbox LIVE arcade this week), Gears of War 2 (with new DLC out), Secret of Monkey Island (whether it’s on iPhone, Steam or 360), and much more.

Kris Graft: What about accessibility? You guys have a background in hardcore shooters, but I’ve always thought that something like Valve’s Team Fortress 2, for example, is a shooter that somebody who’s not good at shooters can still play.

ES: Well, that’s why we hired Richard Ham. He was one of the co-creators of Syphon Filter. He put The Sims on the consoles, which as far as I’m concerned is a superpower. That is a certifiable achievement. And he just finished Fable 2. He is brilliant at taking a system and making it easy to get into.

In WET news, Play Magazine has a new feature on Gaming’s New Girls — featuring the game’s lead character, Rubi Malone. WET also gets a mention (as does Rogue Warrior) in a new BBC article discussing Hollywood stars becoming involved in gaming.

In id Software news, in preparation for QuakeCon 2009, there’s a new YouTube video with CEO Todd Hollenshead making wagers with the QuakeCon Girls. If you’re attending the show, you’ll be able to find out who wins the best. Elsewhere, WebDesignDev has a list of the 30 Most Influential People in Programming that includes John Carmack on the list.

We’ve also got a new Team Diary from Fallout 3 Lead Artist Istvan Pely, who spearheaded Mothershp Zeta. In the diary, Ist discusses what went into making this “far out” DLC — detailing the hard work and countless hours put in by members of the team. Here’s an excerpt:

“And with that begins the Vault Dweller’s final and most fantastical adventure in the Capital Wasteland, or rather several hundred miles far above it. The concept of the UFO visit emerged early in the idea-toss sessions we had for DLC, in fact it was the very first thing to pop into my mind; it just seemed a natural fit. But we saved it for last, as a fitting conclusion to the Vault Dweller’s story.”

Updated: Polish site Polygamia.pl has a Mothership Zeta interview with Brian Chapin. It’s in both Polish and English. For consistency’s sake, I’ll post the snippet in English…

We know that the main quest in this add-on will be to escape from the spaceship. How many side-quests and achievements can we expect from it?

BC: There aren’t any explicit side quests, but Mothership Zeta is a pretty big place. While you’ll be receiving three of the four achievements from completing the main quest line, you’ll have to do some searching off the beaten path to get the last achievement. And it’s worth exploring just to see everything that the aliens are up to — they’ve been doing some pretty strange things.

For those keeping track, we’re less than two days away from Mothership Zeta!

The answer’s right here in a new developer profile on Splash Damage’s site. This time around they’re profiling Matt ‘Taff’ McDaid, who got his start in the gaming industry after working for the Ministry of Defense. Here’s a choice cut from the interview:

What are the best and worst parts of your job?On a day-to-day basis, you only get to see what your particular department has been working on. So for me, the best part has to be when you see everybody’s work all come together on the big screen, followed up Jared’s “WOOOooo!!!!”

The worst part is losing at Foosball!

It’s good to know that’s the worst part of the job. I’m currently 1-0 in foosball matches at their offices — though I imagine that record won’t hold up if I go back.

Earlier this week, Kotaku Editor-in-Chief Brian Crecente put up a blog post about his Backyard Adaptations of Video Game Classics — that is, new ways to play outside, inspired by classic games (like Pac-Man and Super Mario Bros.) that normally keep you inside.

Last week plenty of folks were turning back the clock with Battlefield 1943, and this week it’s all about Lucasarts’ re-imagination of the adventure classic, The Secret of Monkey Island. For some, it’s a look back on a classic. For me, it’s a chance to play something I always wanted to play.

Aside from Monkey Island, other popular titles include Trine, NCAA Football 10 and Fight Night Round 4.

Let us know the games you’re playing…

Brent Krische: Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition, and Overlord: Dark Legends.